Dickey happily volunteers

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PHOENIX Many big-name pitchers found reason to say no to the World Baseball Classic. R.A. Dickey was an automatic yes.

The knuckleball master, winner of the NL Cy Young Award with the New York Mets last season now plying his unorthodox trade with Toronto, made it known before anyone asked him that he wished to play.

Now he will start for the United States in its WBC opener Friday night against Mexico, something he calls “one of the greater privileges of my athletic career.”

At 38, Dickey is the oldest player on the U. S. roster. As such, he remembers being a part of the U.S. team at the 1996 Olympics and wants to atone for the disappointment of that bronze medal of 17 years ago.

“So this is a chance to redeem that in a lot of ways,” he said. Dickey is one of three starting pitchers on the 28-man U.S. roster competing in Group D in Arizona. San Francisco's Ryan Vogelsong will start Saturday night against Italy, with Texas' Derek Holland going against Canada on Sunday.

In Thursday's games:

Dominican Republic 9, Venezuela 3: Jose Reyes had four hits and Hanley Ramirez homered to lead the Dominicans in the Pool C opener in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Italy 6, Mexico 5: Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run double off San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo to give Italy the victory in the opening game of Pool D.

Netherlands 6, Cuba 2: Jonathan Schoop had three hits and four RBI to lead the Netherlands to victory.

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